As opening day approaches I have some questions for proper technique in setting up gear with a dog. This is my first season ever with a dog and I am still learning! When you guys set up the decoys, blinds, etc. do you guys allow your dog to walk or run in the water as you set up the decoys or do you put the dog in the truck while you set up or command the dog to stay in the blind (or dog blind) while setting up?

I only ask this because as the colder temperatures approach I don’t want my dog to start out the hunt waiting in the dog blind freezing from being in the water cuz she was running around while I set up the decoys. I have vest for her and will be using that for every hunt.

First thing I do if I'm hunting in the swamp is put the dog's stand on the tree and have him get on it. Doesn't matter if its warm or cold. Now I tend to move with a greater sense of urgency if its cold, I don't want the dog standing in water or swimming because I'm taking my sweet time. Vest or no Vest. He sits there while I set everything up. If hunting one of my other spots where I'm not hunting in water, I place hime where he'll be during the hunt and he just sits there while I do my set up shindig.

I keep my dog sitting on shore while I set up, but it really doesn't matter what you do. If your dog can handle multiple retrieves and then sitting in the blind, it can handle a quick pre-hunt swim. Just make sure when it gets out of the water it has a dry place to sit. And of course, all dogs should be monitored for signs of hypothermia throughout the hunting trip.

I don't mind a young dog running throught the hole a time or two to help stir up the water, as long as he isn't being a pain about it. And he should already be trained with decoys before the first hunt. A trained dog will usually get on his stand as soon as it is put up.

Thanks all for the help so far! Sounds like I should keep her in her dog blind once I start setting up. She is already well trained with decoys, mojo’s and whenever I set the mutt hutt up she high tails straight for it. So I should set mutt hutt up first then set decoys – makes sense.

For me , hunt out of a jon boat with no trees around in a marsh . It's still dark when setting of , so I let her do her thing , kind of like letting her air out . She's really amped up when we get there , so this lets her mellow out some

hockeynut wrote:As opening day approaches I have some questions for proper technique in setting up gear with a dog. This is my first season ever with a dog and I am still learning! When you guys set up the decoys, blinds, etc. do you guys allow your dog to walk or run in the water as you set up the decoys or do you put the dog in the truck while you set up or command the dog to stay in the blind (or dog blind) while setting up?

I only ask this because as the colder temperatures approach I don’t want my dog to start out the hunt waiting in the dog blind freezing from being in the water cuz she was running around while I set up the decoys. I have vest for her and will be using that for every hunt.

Thanks

If it were me, I'd try to establish a standard early on- let pup "participate" in the morning chores and begin to understand the routine without any mischief. Gives you an opportunity in real time situations to apply, and re-enforce some understandings- like for example,..when pup trys to get into your "snack bag" after that juicy sausage bisquit while he knows you're pre-occupied with something else Or, when you're tossing/setting decoys from the boat or shore with the young and inexperienced - Pups' not supposed to retrieve each one you toss

Swampbilly1980- I got a feeva',..and the only cure is more Mergansers and face paint.